Chemin de fer

Servet-i-Fünun "The Wealth of the Arts".

1900 · 164829 — Istanbul: Ahmed hsan 1900-06. The birth of the Hejaz railway First editions first printings of 82 issues of this influential Ottoman magazine notably with illustrated reports covering the establishment of the Hejaz Railway between 1901 and 1906. Striking images include the transportation of the track itself from Beirut Issue 547 the inauguration of the line between Dar'a and Muzayrib Issue 553 and an inspection of the line by the governor of Damascus Issue 555. Numerous issues contain images charting the progress of the construction. The documentary quality of these pictures is particularly unusual. In Issue 688 for example the front cover depicts a group of Ottoman soldiers at work at Haifa station on the railway's Palestinian branch line while the cover of Issue 701 shows Sultan Abdülhamid II inspecting the section from Damascus to Ma'an on the anniversary of his accession. These latter images were taken by a special reporter appointed by the magazine. Servet-i funün began to be published in 1891 under the direction of its owner Ahmed hsan and continued its activities until 1944. It occupies a special place within the history of Turkish periodicals of which it was considered the most intellectual. Initially an illustrated supplement of the newspaper Servet it took on a more literary character from 1895 when the editorship was handed to Tevfik Fikret and printed the work of famous contemporary writers including Cenab ehabeddin Halit Ziya Mehmed Rauf and Ali Ekrem. Despite these literary leanings the magazine maintained robust coverage of current affairs as is evinced by the political supplements and the many documentary images of contemporary events in the Ottoman Empire which are found in these issues. Volume 22 contains the consecutive issues 547-572 and the unnumbered volume holds issues 599-625 followed by the political supplements to issues 599-624. The last bound volume contains the consecutive issues 781-806 followed by the political supplements to each issue. The unbound issues are 507 687 688 696 and 701. Folio 335 x 235 mm 3 bound vols and 5 unbound issues. Bound vols: one vol. in contemporary half brown morocco rebacked retaining original title lettering piece spine with raised bands unnumbered cloth sides; two vols in contemporary sheep spines with raised bands gilt lettered direct both numbered in gilt in third compartment "22" and "31" cloth sides. Unbound issues: spines hand stitched and sometime strengthened with paper. Gilt stamp of "Doctor Essad" at foot of spine of vol. 31. Lacking a few leaves only: pp. 211-2 from supplement to vol. 31; pp. 133-4 161-2 and 187-8 from political supplements of unnumbered volume. Unnumbered volume: Judiciously restored contents with faint damp stains at ends and margins creased in places repair to p.41 with clear tape. Numbered vols: Extremities judiciously repaired and strengthened scuffed and recoloured in places some stripping of leather and wear to edges minor loss to spine of vol. 31 some issues printed on lighter paper stock. Unbound issues: four issues with neat recent repairs to spines occasional light damp staining one issue with repaired tear to front wrapper and a few small holes throughout. Overall some toning mild scattered foxing or staining and a few marginal tears or chips. A good set overall. hardcover